International

The ship Aroyat, with 17,600 tons of wheat on board, which left the port of Chornomorsk for Egypt, arrived in Istanbul

A second shipment of Ukrainian wheat reached Turkey via the Black Sea on Sunday, according to maritime traffic monitoring sites, AFP reports.

The Palau-flagged bulk carrier Aroyat - laden with 17,600 tonnes of wheat - left the port city of Chornomorsk on Friday bound for Egypt.

Ukraine is testing a new sea route that avoids using international waters and follows those controlled by NATO members Bulgaria and Romania, following Russia’s withdrawal from a UN-backed grain export deal.

According to the websites Marine Traffic and Vessel Finder, the Aroyat was at the southern exit of the Bosphorus Strait at 0300 GMT on Sunday. It was to head towards the Dardanelles Strait to reach the Mediterranean.

A first ship loaded with 3,000 tons of wheat, and also flying the flag of Palau, left Chornomorsk without incident on Tuesday and arrived in Istanbul on Thursday.

Russia and Ukraine are two major agricultural powers whose supplies are crucial for global food security.

Carolina Străjescu

Carolina Străjescu

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